Urinal

ABSTRACT

A urinal comprises a first chamber including a first opening, a second opening and a one-way valve controlling flow through the second opening. The urinal further comprises a second chamber housing the one-way valve and a fitting for coupling to a device for collecting urine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This regular utility patent application claims the benefit of the Apr.13, 2007 filing date of U.S. Ser. No. 60/923,184. The entire disclosureof U.S. Ser. No. 60/923,184 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Males confined to wheelchairs and beds due to infirmity, disease or thelike frequently find it difficult or impossible to use standard bedpans,urinals or the like to relieve themselves. Such use often results inwetting of their clothing, wheelchairs, bed linens, and so on. Withoutattention, exposure to urine causes their skin to become irritated. Longexposure may cause their skin tissue to begin to break down.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, a urinal comprises a firsthousing portion having a first end including a first opening, a secondend including a second opening and a one-way valve controlling flowthrough the second opening. The urinal further comprises a secondhousing portion having a first end and a second end including a fittingfor coupling to a device drainage bag for collecting urine.

Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the first endof the first housing portion includes a diaphragm partially closing thefirst end of the first housing portion. The diaphragm defines an openingand a perimeter connected to the first housing portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, a urinal comprises a firstchamber including a first opening, a second opening and a one-way valvecontrolling flow through the second opening. The urinal furthercomprises a second chamber housing the one-way valve and a fitting forcoupling to a device for collecting urine.

Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the firstchamber includes a diaphragm partially closing the first chamber. Thediaphragm defines an opening into the first chamber and a perimeterconnected around the first chamber.

Illustratively according to the invention, the diaphragm comprises aresilient diaphragm.

Illustratively according to this aspect of the invention, the fittingcomprises a compression fitting including a tapering inner portion forreceiving an end portion of a conduit coupled to the device. Threads areprovided on the inner portion. The fitting further comprises an outerportion provided with a tapered inner surface. Complementary threads areprovided on the outer portion for engaging the threads provided on theinner portion to capture the end portion of the conduit therebetween andcouple the device to the urinal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may best be understood by referring to the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings which illustrate theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a partly broken away partly exploded perspective viewof an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional side elevational view of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of theapparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, taken generally along section lines3,4-3,4 of FIG. 2, with a component of the apparatus in a firstorientation;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of theapparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, taken generally along section lines3,4-3,4 of FIG. 2, with a component of the apparatus in a secondorientation;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partly exploded perspective view of an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a partly broken away partly exploded perspective viewof an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a longitudinal sectional side elevational view of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of theapparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6-7, taken generally along section lines8,9-8,9 of FIG. 7, with a component of the apparatus in a firstorientation; and,

FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary sectional side elevational view of theapparatus illustrated in FIGS. 6-7, taken generally along section lines8,9-8,9 of FIG. 7, with a component of the apparatus in a secondorientation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a hand held urinal 20 includes a firsthousing portion 22 defining a first chamber 24. The first chamber 24 isopen at a first end 26 for insertion of the user's penis 28 into thefirst chamber 24. A second end 30 of the first housing portion 22narrows in a funnel-like manner to a neck opening 32. The opposite end34 of the neck 32 is provided with a one-way valve 36. The illustratedone-way valve 36 is a duckbill-type valve, but other types of one-wayvalves 36 are also contemplated.

A second housing portion 38 defining a second chamber 40 is provided atthe second end 30 of the first housing portion 22. The two housingportions 22, 38 are joined at the second end 30 of the first housingportion 22 and the first end 44 of the second housing portion 38. Theone-way valve 36 is housed in the second chamber 40 and oriented topermit the flow of urine from the first chamber 24 into the secondchamber 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, but to impede the flow of urinein the opposite direction, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The second end 46 of the second housing portion 38 is provided with acompression fitting 48 including a tapering inner nozzle 50 and athreaded outer nut 52 with a tapered inner surface 54. The threads 56 onthe nut 52 engage threads 60 on the outside of a neck 62 at the secondend 46 of the second housing portion 38. The drain tube 64 of a drainagebag 66 is cut to a desired length, pushed through the opening 68 in thenut 52 and onto the tapered outer surface of the nozzle 50. The draintube 64 is then captured on the fitting 48 by engaging the threads 56,60 of the nut 52 and neck 62 and screwing these two together. Oppositeaction frees the drain tube 64, and thus the drainage bag 66, from theurinal 20 to service or replace the drainage bag 66.

Referring now to FIG. 5, working sample devices have been constructedusing two generally right circular cylindrical clear or colored plasticwater or soda bottles 80, 82 or the like. The flat bottom ends 84, 86 ofthe bottles 80, 82 are cut off and the neck end 88 of one bottle 80 isfitted with a one-way valve 36 constructed from two flexible resin orpolymer sheets 90, 92 with their opposite lateral edges fused, glued orotherwise joined together. The thus-formed sleeve is opened at one endand the neck 88 of bottle 80 inserted into it and glued in place. Theneck end 88 of bottle 80 is then pushed into the open bottom end 94 ofbottle 82 and glued in place. The neck 96 of bottle 82 is then fittedwith a compression fitting 48 of the type described above.

Referring now to FIG. 6-9, in a second embodiment, a urinal 120 includesa first housing portion 122 defining a first chamber 124. The firstchamber 124 is provided with a diaphragm 125 of elastic material, suchas, for example, latex at a first end 126 thereof. Diaphragm 125includes an opening 123 for insertion of the user's penis 128 into thefirst chamber 124. The diaphragm 125 is attached around its perimeter127 to the sidewall of housing portion 122. Diaphragm 125 reduces thelikelihood of urine splashing or spilling out of the chamber 124.

A second end 130 of the first housing portion 122 narrows in afunnel-like manner to a neck opening 132. The opposite end 134 of theneck 132 is provided with a one-way valve 136. Again, the illustratedone-way valve 136 is a duckbill-type valve, but other types of one-wayvalves 136 are also contemplated.

A second housing portion 138 defining a second chamber 140 is providedat the second end 130 of the first housing portion 122. The two housingportions 122, 138 are joined at the second end 130 of the first housingportion 122 and the first end 144 of the second housing portion 138. Theone-way valve 136 is housed in the second chamber 140 and oriented topermit the flow of urine from the first chamber 124 into the secondchamber 140, but to impede the flow of urine in the opposite direction.

The second end 146 of the second housing portion 138 is provided with acompression fitting 148 including a tapering inner nozzle 150 and athreaded outer nut 152 with a tapered inner surface 154. The threads 156on the nut 152 engage threads 160 on the outside of a neck 162 at thesecond end 146 of the second housing portion 138. The drain tube 164 ofa drainage bag 166 is cut to a desired length, pushed through theopening 168 in the nut 152 and onto the tapered outer surface of thenozzle 150. The drain tube 164 is then captured on the fitting 148 byengaging the threads 156, 160 of the nut 152 and neck 162 and screwingthese two together. Opposite action frees the drain tube 164, and thusthe drainage bag 166, from the urinal 120 to service or replace thedrainage bag 166.

In the illustrated embodiments, the end 26, 126 of the urinal 20, 120can be closed when not in use by a molded resin or polymer cap 180 sizedto snap fit over the end 26, 126 and close it. The illustrated cap 180is molded with an integral retaining strap 182 with an opening 184 atits opposite end sized to fit around the neck 62, 162 and be capturedthereon when the nut 52, 152 is screwed onto the neck 62, 162.

1. A urinal comprising a first housing portion having a first endincluding a first opening, a second end including a second opening, aone-way valve controlling flow through the second opening, a secondhousing portion having a first end and a second end including a fittingfor coupling to a device drainage bag for collecting urine.
 2. Theurinal of claim 1 wherein the first end of the first housing portionincludes a diaphragm partially closing the first end of the firsthousing portion, the diaphragm defining an opening and a perimeterconnected to the first housing portion.
 3. The urinal of claim 2 whereinthe diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm.
 4. The urinal of claim 1wherein the fitting comprises a compression fitting including a taperinginner portion for receiving an end portion of a conduit coupled to thedevice, threads provided on the inner portion, an outer portion providedwith a tapered inner surface, and complementary threads provided on theouter portion for engaging the threads provided on the inner portion tocapture the end portion of the conduit therebetween and couple thedevice to the urinal.
 5. A urinal comprising a first chamber including afirst opening, a second opening, a one-way valve controlling flowthrough the second opening, a second chamber housing the one-way valveand a fitting for coupling to a device for collecting urine.
 6. Theurinal of claim 5 wherein the first chamber includes a diaphragmpartially closing the first chamber, the diaphragm defining an openingand a perimeter connected to the first chamber.
 7. The urinal of claim 6wherein the diaphragm comprises a resilient diaphragm.
 8. The urinal ofclaim 5 wherein the fitting comprises a compression fitting including atapering inner portion for receiving an end portion of a conduit coupledto the device, threads provided on the inner portion, an outer portionprovided with a tapered inner surface, and complementary threadsprovided on the outer portion for engaging the threads provided on theinner portion to capture the end portion of the conduit therebetween andcouple the device to the urinal.